- Anzac Day dawn service, Kanchanaburi, tomorrow/
- Beach Party/Music Festival in Cha Am Saturday/
- Old Days festival at Bluport May 5-7/
- Scorching Hot Weather, Rising Electricity Bills lead to Public Outcry/
- Thailand’s heatwave nears end, rainy season looms/
- Weatherman says current hot weather in Thailand does not qualify as a heat wave/
- Summer storms to batter 59 provinces until Wednesday/
- Baht all safe and sound – for now/
- Daily Covid-19 cases in Bangkok spike/
- Wild Brawl Involving Bombs and Firearms at Popular Pattaya Market/
- English fighter stuns Thai legend Nong-O for One Muay Thai title
- Thailand’s economy: Thailand’s unemployment rate drops below 1% for first time in 4 years/Thailand’s industrial confidence index for March highest in a decade/Q1 Foreign Investment Soars by 25%, $960 Million, Japan Top/Events sector set to grow by 30% amid election bump/Thailand’s fruit exports to China keep on growing/How Thailand Minister Pushed Through Asia’s First Cannabis Legalization/
- Tourism: Raja Ferry temporarily suspends Pha Ngan–Samui route/US expat: 7 things tourists should never do when they visit Bangkok/Chiang Mai tourism hit by smog/Tour Boat with 42 Foreign Tourists Gets Stuck on a Sandbank in Phang Nga/
- Thailand Experience: 17 Best Places To Eat And Drink In Bangkok/Thai Street Food – 5 ‘must eat’ Foods in Chinatown, Bangkok/14 elephants get apologies and a fruit feast after unique ceremony in Trang/The backpacker dish so famous they named a whole region after it/
- International: Norway surpasses Russia in energy exports/SEAL Team 6, Army special forces rescue US diplomats in Sudan/Philippines schools can call off classes due to heat/
- Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
Beach Party/Music Festival in Cha Am Saturday
The NangLay Beach Party and Music Festival will be held at the northern end of the Cha Am beach area, near the Triple Tree Resort on Saturday, April 29.
The non-stop party features many popular artists, including Bright Vachirawit and Nanon, Billkin, Palmy, Potato, Paradox, Joey Boy, Three Man Down, Tillybirds, Paper Planes And Sarah Salola, with a light and sound system throughout the night.
Ticket sales in every 7-Eleven store or HERE.
Scorching Hot Weather, Rising Electricity Bills lead to Public Outcry
Restaurants and entertainment venues in Thailand are struggling with rising power bills and the absence of outdoor customers due to the current scorching weather. Super malls, however, are getting more customers from people looking for shade and cool air, according to Thanakorn Kuptachit, an adviser to the Thai Alcohol Business Assn.
Thanakorn revealed that the sweltering weather across Thailand is negatively affecting entertainment places, hotels, and restaurants. Continued …
Thailand’s heatwave nears end, rainy season looms
Thailand’s hot season approaches its conclusion as the rainy season is set to begin in mid-May, according to the country’s Meteorological Department. The hot season peaked on April 15, when the temperature reached a record high of 44.6°C in Tak.
Deputy Director-general Thanasit Iam-ananchai has stated that throughout the weekend daily heat indices or apparent temperatures are anticipated to surge to precarious levels in specific regions, such as Bang Na district in Bangkok, Sattahip district in Chon Buri, and Phuket. Thanasit attributes this to the proximity to the sea and increased humidity levels in these coastal areas. Continued …
Weatherman says current hot weather in Thailand does not qualify as a heat wave
The hot weather, currently affecting many parts of Thailand, is being caused by persistent low pressure cell, according to Somkuan Tonjan, head of the Central Weather Forecast subdivision of the Thai Meteorological Department.
It does not qualify as a “heat wave”, which is an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity. Continued …
Summer storms to batter 59 provinces until Wednesday
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned that 59 provinces in the North, Northeast, Central and East will be hit by summer storms from Sunday to Wednesday.
The summer storms are possibly being caused by the influence of a moderate high-pressure system over the South China Sea, TMD said. This high-pressure system is bringing southerly and southeasterly winds to upper Thailand, which are fast gaining strength, it added. Continued …
Baht all safe and sound – for now
While the recent banking debacle in the U.S. and Europe sparked fears about a contagion spreading worldwide, the head of Thailand’s Deposit Protection Agency (DPA) said since the agency’s establishment in 2008, Thailand has never been close to requiring action to protect deposits.
DPA President Songpol Chevapanyaroj said the agency and the Bank of Thailand cooperate to prevent failures in Thailand’s banking system. Continued …
Daily Covid-19 cases in Bangkok spike
Bangkok‘s daily number of Covid-19 cases has experienced a significant spike, nearly doubling from 400 to 700 in the wake of the city’s recent Songkran festival. This has led to growing concerns among local authorities, who fear that the true extent of the situation might not yet be fully understood.
The deputy city clerk at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Dr. Wantanee Watana, has warned that the situation may deteriorate further, with some cases potentially not having been reported to the relevant authorities, or still being in the process of being recorded. This could result in the daily number of Covid-19 cases in the Thai capital rising even further to approximately 1,000 cases per day. Continued …
Wild Brawl Involving Bombs and Firearms at Popular Pattaya Market
A teenager has sustained head injuries after being hit with a rock in a wild Pattaya market brawl that involved both gun shooting and bomb throwing.
The Pattaya City Police were notified of the incident just before dawn on Saturday morning at the popular Poethisarn Market in North Pattaya. Continued …
English fighter stuns Thai legend Nong-O for One Muay Thai title
English Muay Thai fighter Jonathan Haggerty scored a shocking TKO (technical knockout) against Thai opponent Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, aka Nong-O Hama, to capture the One bantamweight Muay Thai world title on Saturday.
One Championship (One) produced another epic evening of martial arts action at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The competition featured Muay Thai and mixed martial arts (MMA) in various categories. Continued …
Thailand’s unemployment rate drops below 1% for first time in 4 years
Thailand’s unemployment rate at the end of February dropped below 1% for the first time in four years, which is a sign that the economy is improving, the government said.
Trisulee Trisaranakul, a deputy government spokesperson, on Sunday cited the National Statistical Office (NSO)’s report showing that the rate of unemployment at the end of February stood at 0.9%, compared to 1% at the end of last year. Continued …
Thailand’s industrial confidence index for March highest in a decade
Thailand’s Industrial Sentiment Index (TISI) was at its highest for a decade in March, boosted by a rebound in domestic demand, production increases and improved performance, with the exception of production costs, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri on Sunday.
The index rose to 97.8 points in March, up from 94.1 points and 96.8 points in January and February, respectively, and was the highest since January 2013, he said, adding that he expects the index to pass 100 to 106.3 in the next three months. Continued …
Q1 Foreign Investment Soars by 25%, $960 Million, Japan Top
Thosapone Dansuputra, director-general of the Business Development Department, in his capacity as the secretary of the Board of Investment of Foreign Business, revealed that in the first quarter of 2023 (January – March), a total of 174 foreign businesses were granted permission to invest in Thailand under the Foreign Business Act of 1999, with a total investment value of 33 billion baht (960 U.S. dollars).
Out of these, 56 businesses obtained investment licenses and 118 received a certificate of permission to operate their business. These businesses also created job opportunities for 1,932 Thai people. Continued …
Events sector set to grow by 30% amid election bump
Thailand’s event-management industry is expected to grow by 25%-30% to reach 16-17 billion baht this year, as both the government and private sectors are rolling out events, particularly related to election campaigns.
According to Upathum Nisitsukcharoen, president of the Event Management Assn., spending on organized event management is expected to exceed 9 billion baht in the first half this year, a 30% increase, up roughly two billion year-on-year. Continued …
Thailand’s fruit exports to China keep on growing
Thailand, already a dominant fruit exporter to China, witnessed a growth of 3.7% in 2022, generating more than 168-billion baht in revenue. The country’s thriving fruit industry found an avid market in China, which imported over 2.17 million tons of Thai fruit last year, according to a recent report from the Commerce Ministry.
A diverse assortment of Thai fruit, such as bananas, coconuts, durians, dragon fruit, and longans consistently ranked high in Chinese imports. These fruits were exported in various forms, including fresh, frozen, dried, and processed, catering to the diverse palates and culinary preferences in China. Continued …
How Thailand Minister Pushed Through Asia’s First Cannabis Legalization
Until last summer, Thailand had some of the world’s harshest drug laws, with possession of cannabis then punishable by up to 15 years in prison. But on June 9, marijuana was decriminalized and a resurgent cannabis culture has seen dispensaries popping up across the Southeast Asian nation of 70 million.
The move was the brainchild of Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand’s deputy prime minister and Health minister, whose Bhumjaithai Party is today the junior partner in a military-backed ruling coalition. Anutin’s pitch was that legalizing cannabis could reduce prison overcrowding — more than 80% of inmates in Thai prisons were incarcerated on drug-related charges — while spurring a hemp industry to alleviate rural poverty. The Thai cannabis market is now projected to reach $9.6 billion by 2030. Continued …
Raja Ferry temporarily suspends Pha Ngan–Samui route
Raja Ferry Port Co. has suspended all ferry services between Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand from Sunday–Wednesday (April 23-25).
The company did not cite a reason for the suspension. Last week, a ferry on the Raja Ferry’s Koh Samui–mainland route sank at Don Sak Pier in Surat Thani province. – Thetahiger.com
US expat: 7 things tourists should never do when they visit Bangkok
I moved to Bangkok from Brooklyn in 2013 to take on a job at a branding agency. After that job finished, my wife and I decided to stay because of the people. Thailand has one of the most welcoming cultures in the world.
Bangkok was the world’s most-visited city from 2016 to 2019, according to Mastercard’s Global Destination Index, an annual report that ranks and consolidates tourism data in 200 cities. In 2019, more than 22 million tourists spent at least one night in Bangkok. Continued …
Chiang Mai tourism hit by smog
Severe haze pollution has not only posed a health hazard to residents in Chiang Mai, but also dealt a blow to its tourism.
Concerned parties have urged the government to come up with long-term measures to deal with the problem, including pushing for the passage of a “clean air” bill pending deliberation in parliament. Continued …
Tour Boat with 42 Foreign Tourists Gets Stuck on a Sandbank in Phang Nga
17 Best Places To Eat And Drink In Bangkok
Thailand, otherwise known as The Land of Smiles, has so much to offer the world — not least of which is the country’s beautiful cuisine, which has seen an explosion of popularity in recent years. And what’s not to love?
Thai cuisine is adept at meeting the needs of various eaters; it’s easy to go gluten-free or vegetarian, and Thai cooking is notoriously dairy free. If you’ve become as consumed by Thai tastes as us, you probably hope to one day get right to the source and experience this amazing cuisine in its home country. Continued …
Thai Street Food – 5 ‘must eat’ Foods in Chinatown, Bangkok – Video
14 elephants get apologies and a fruit feast after unique ceremony in Trang
Fourteen elephants were treated to a fruit buffet during a rare annual ceremony held in the southern province of Trang on Saturday.
The elephants, each with a mahout on the back, lined up along a 30-meter-long makeshift table strewn with sugarcanes, bananas, watermelons, and pineapples — all their favorite foods. Continued …
The backpacker dish so famous they named a whole region after it
It’s the dish so famous, they named a whole region after it. Of course, by “they” we mean Western travelers making their way around Southeast Asia, those who noticed that everywhere tourists went in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, vendors also appeared selling a dish they had come to know and love: banana pancakes.
Welcome to the Banana Pancake Trail. Welcome to the culture of banana pancakes, the wildly popular street-food snack that isn’t a pancake at all, but rather a Thai/Malaysian-style roti filled with fresh banana and topped with condensed milk. To make it, a glutinous dough is stretched gossamer-thin, fried on a hotplate before being filled, folded, flipped and served. And all this, usually, for about $1. Continued …
Norway surpasses Russia in energy exports
In a remarkable turn of events, a humble office building overlooking a fjord in Stavanger, Norway, now holds the key to European energy security. Here, the company Petoro oversees several of the continent’s largest oil and natural gas fields on Norway’s petroleum-rich continental shelf. This unassuming location has become central to Europe’s quest to keep the lights on amid rising tensions with Russia over the war in Ukraine. Continued …
SEAL Team 6, Army special forces rescue US diplomats in Sudan
Details emerged Sunday from the dramatic evacuation of U.S. diplomats from the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, while aid workers and other Americans remained imperiled amid the raging warfare pitting rival generals. Continued …
Philippines schools can call off classes due to heat
As several parts of the Philippines try to cope with the summer heat, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Saturday that school authorities could call off in-person classes to safeguard the health of their students and staff. Continued …
Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule
- Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
- Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm
The one-way fare is 325 baht.
The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.
Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day
Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departing from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.
Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets
Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October
Book a flight
Kite festival this weekend in Thap Sakae
Bangkok air pollution worsens
Fruit vendor wins 30 million baht lottery jackpot
Myanmar citizens in Thailand protest on coup anniversary
Bangkok police crack down on checkpoints after actress bribe scandal
Taxi scam concerns visitors the most
Praça at The Standard Hua Hin
Australia to oust monarch from banknotes
‘Surprising’ ancient Egyptian mummy ingredients discovered
